RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded a contract to replace the bridge on N.C. 94 over the Northwest Fork in Tyrrell County.

The $3.1 million contract was awarded to Carolina Bridge Company Inc. of Orangeburg, S.C. Work can begin as early as June 1, with final completion scheduled for no later than May 29, 2014.

The existing bridge was built in 1954 and is deemed structurally deficient. This does not mean the bridge is unsafe, but there are elements of the bridge that needed to be monitored to maintain its structural integrity.

This is one of 34 contracts totaling $130.8 million awarded by Conti following NCDOT’s March contract letting for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina. NCDOT awarded the contracts to the lowest bidders, as required by state law. The bids received on the projects awarded came in about 1.4 percent, or $118.8 million, below NCDOT estimates.

Since Gov. Bev Perdue took office in January of 2009, NCDOT has awarded 575 highway contracts totaling $4.1 billion to ensure that all North Carolinians have access to jobs and educational opportunities.

For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.